When a filling
isn’t enough.
A crown covers the whole tooth rather than patching part of it — restoring the strength to bite normally again, and protecting what is left underneath from splitting.
A crown, not a filling.
A filling replaces the part of a tooth that has been lost. Once too much structure is gone, there is not enough sound tooth left to hold a filling securely — and a large filling in a weakened tooth becomes a wedge that eventually splits it.
A crown solves that differently. It covers the entire tooth, holding it together rather than pushing it apart.
Delaying a crown when it is clinically indicated tends to cost more, not less. A tooth that fractures while you are waiting may need root canal treatment, or may not be savable at all.
Typical reasons
- Root canal treatment — the tooth is brittle without one
- A large cavity with too little tooth left to fill
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- A large old filling that is failing
- Grinding that has worn enamel down
- Completing a dental implant, fitted to the post
Where the crown sits.
Two appointments, no putty.
Crowns here are completed in two visits, with a digital scan rather than an impression tray full of material.
Preparation and scanning
A uniform layer of enamel is removed from all surfaces to create space for the crown material, and any remaining decay is cleared at this stage. The amount of reduction is judged so the crown seats correctly and your natural bite alignment is maintained.
A precise 3D scan is taken of the prepared tooth and the teeth around it — no uncomfortable putty moulds. A temporary crown protects the tooth while the permanent one is made at the dental laboratory.
Fitting the permanent crown
When your custom crown returns from the laboratory, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown is tried in for fit and shade before anything is fixed in place.
Only once it sits correctly and matches the teeth around it is it permanently placed. You leave able to bite normally on that tooth again.
Some cases can be completed without the laboratory stage. More on single visit crowns ›
Three choices, different jobs.
Which suits you depends mostly on where the tooth sits in your mouth and how much force goes through it.
All-ceramic
The most natural looking, and the usual choice for teeth that show when you smile. Porcelain and zirconia both fall here.
Ceramic-on-metal
A natural-looking outer surface with the durability only metal provides underneath. A common compromise for teeth doing heavy work.
All-metal
The most durable option, used where strength matters more than appearance — typically well back in the mouth.
We recommend all-ceramic where it is appropriate, because it looks most natural. We will tell you honestly if the position of the tooth means it is the wrong call.
Fifteen years or more — if you look after it.
A porcelain or zirconia crown placed on a properly prepared tooth, with regular professional cleanings and good daily hygiene, typically lasts fifteen years or more.
It is worth knowing why crowns fail, because two of the three reasons are within your control.
- Recurrent decay at the margin — from a poor original fit, or inadequate cleaning at the gum line
- Fracture of the crown material — considerably more common in people who grind their teeth
- Failure of the underlying tooth — the crown is sound but what it sits on is not
- A night guard is worth discussing if you grind
- Crowns still need flossing, particularly where they meet the gum
Answered honestly.
How long does a dental crown last?
How many appointments does it take?
Will it match my other teeth?
Do I really need a crown after a root canal?
Does having a crown fitted hurt?
What if my temporary crown comes off?
Is a crown covered by insurance?
Been told you need a crown?
Call and we’ll look at the tooth, explain what it needs and what it will cost — before anything is booked.